Bobcat Track and Field Athletes at their Finest

“Nothing is impossible, the word it’s self says I’M POSSIBLE”-Audrey Hepburn. With that being said the collegiate student athletes, on the Frostburg State University’s indoor track and field team, have been proving that with hard work and dedication anything is possible. As each individual athlete has been putting in countless hours of dedication hoping to conclude the season effectively, the men and women’s track and field team are in the hopes of having an amazing outdoor season. Looking forward towards the outdoor season, the team is aspiring to qualify for the ECAC Championship as well as expanding individual personal records.

Many athletes have been making their mark on the team this season. Having a diverse selection of impressive athletes, the Bobcats have been bringing the heat to each of their meets. Freshman jumper Kala Herbert joined the track and field team after competing in high school, is hoping to assist the team in achieving their set goals. With a main focus in triple jump, Herbert’s personal best consists of 35’10.5”. “My season has been a learning experience and adding new upper level skills to my usual high school routine is difficult, but I’m getting there. Hopefully outdoor is better and I can get back to jumping 35’ and qualify for the conference championship in triple jump” says Herbert.

Getting adjusted to collegiate level of track and field is challenging to say the least, but with the help and support from the coaches and teammates, this process becomes much easier. Freshman thrower Michael Harley states, “My season is going really good for being a freshman and having to learn a new event. I really wouldn’t be where I’m at right now if it wasn’t for the help of my coach and teammates”. Attaining a personal best of 11.88 meters in shot put, Harley throws an extensive 12.5 meters in weight. “My teammates push me and help motivate me to do better and add more competition to be the best on the team”. Realizing that there is no ‘I’ in team the student athletes encourage each other into being the best that they can be, improving not only individually but also as a whole.

Along with encouraging the team, the student athletes that have competed in their previous years assist in helping the freshman get better through their own personal experience. Sophomore Hossein Hakimi not only accommodates the team with his impressive times, but also advocates in guidance for the first time teammates. Focusing on events such as the 200m and 400m dash, Hakimi hopes to, “improve on what I did last year and hopefully qualify for the ECAC Championship. Last year was my first time competing as a college athlete and I learned a lot which can help me improve more this year and the next”. With a personal best time of 23.61 in the 200m dash, Hakimi previously achieved his personal best record with a time of 52.37 in the 400m dash at Susquehanna University’s Crusader Classic.

Along with these impressive athletes the women’s 4x4m dash consisting of all freshman, (Brianna Wilson, Zoe Hylton, Erin Early and Kayla Truesde) ran an amazing time of 1:52.09 at the Crusader Classics. Along side the females was senior Chris Rickell, who hit the ECAC mark by throwing his personal best of 15.26 meters. This year’s team is striking and getting better with each weeks practice. Continuing to work hard, the team will finish this week off by preparing for the upcoming meet Saturday February 14, 2015 at SU Invitational-Susquehanna University as well as the Indoor CAC Championship at Christopher Newport, February 21,2015.